The largest summertime hot air balloon and music festival in North America starts tomorrow, July 25 and runs through Sunday, July 27 on a family airport surrounded by homes and farms in Hunterdon County.

Wear comfortable, enclosed shoes that you're not afraid to get dirty or wet. On-site parking, and the balloon launch viewing area, are hay fields the rest of the year. That means they're not perfectly flat, or dry — especially during the morning balloon launch, when there's dew on the grass, or if a storm has passed through. Even the paved area connecting the booths is large. You'll walk a lot.

Come prepared to spend the day. The mass ascension is beautiful, and just one part of the fun. Put a blanket or portable outdoor chairs in the car and break them out on the lawn for a concert by a major act. Wear sunscreen, and bring it to reapply. Hats are a good idea. When you're weary, the QuickChek hospitality tent has seats under cover.

The festival is a nibbler's delight. A number of major food companies "sponsor" the festival, freely distributing samples of food and beverages. It's a great place to learn if you like, say, the new energy drink flavor. For heartier sustenance, there's a ready variety of food for sale, from subs and cold drinks at the QuickChek (air conditioned) store to the many vendors. Outside food isn't allowed, and bags are checked at the entrance.

Traffic slows to a crawl starting an hour before the evening balloon launch, and shortly afterward. You may not notice if your weekday commute takes you on any major N.J. highways, or if you use the Shore house in the summer, but local residents sure feel the influx of traffic in Readington and on routes 202 and 22. Time a trip closely to catch an evening launch, and you just might miss it.

Plan the day out before you arrive. It's like a trip to an amusement park — some activities are continuous, like the children's rides, but there are also a lot of shows that aren't. Shows this year include high dive, juggling and magic, along with the concerts and balloon launches, along with time to get to the different spots.

A hot air balloon ride at the festival is not only possible, it's a whole lot of fun. A ride during the morning ascension costs $225 and is $25 more in the evening. Regardless of the direction the wind takes you, the initial views of the surrounding balloons, festival grounds and open space are beautiful.

The festival's organizers can't control the weather and it's safety first. That means a balloon ascension may be scrapped by winds or approaching storms, especially if there's lightning in the area. Ditto for the concerts.